Motorcycles and Scooters to be launched in 2020

The year 2020 seems packs a range of motorcycles and scooter for the Indian market. The BSVI transition which is due April 1, 2020, could be a pivoting point for the automobile industry in India. While some products from manufacturers will clear the emission hurdle as is (with necessary changes to the engines only), some products will be offered in new iterations to add more appeal and justify the price hike.

Following is the list of motorcycles and scooters which are expected to be launched in India in the year 2020 -

Scooters

Bajaj comes back to scooters but this time adapts the EV way. An all-new platform that could spawn a similar but a sporty scooter from Husqvarna. That said, the Chetak could retail from KTM's outlets offering an upmarket ownership experience for the potential owners.

Launch expected: January 2020

Cruisers

TVS Zeppelin

TVS Motor may be skipping the Auto Expo next month, but two years back the manufacturer had showcased the very interesting looking Zeppelin concept, a modern-looking cruiser powered by a 220cc, liquid-cooled single cylinder engine. The bigger highlight though was the engine's integrated starter generator and the electric motor giving the engine a boost. We are expecting TVS to bring the production version out this year, though it remains to be seen whether or not the Zeppelin concept (could be renamed at launch) becomes India's first production hybrid two-wheeler.

Launch: Mid 2020

Indian Challenger

Revised styling and an all-new engine for the MY20. The Challenger now gets a 1,769cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine that is good enough for 122.5PS and 178Nm. The feature on offer is all-LED headlamps, 100-watt stereo system synced with a 7-inch instrument cluster, powered visor and key-less entry.

Launch Expected: Mid-2020

Nakeds

Bajaj Pulsar BS-VI range

Ranging from the 125, up to the 220 the Pulsar is expected to be tweaked mechanically to comply with the upcoming BSVI norms. Which could essentially hike the price up to Rs 5,000-10,000 across the range. The NS160, NS200 and the RS200 will receive similar updates as well.

Based on the familiar KTM 250 Duke's platform, The Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 will be first two motorcycles that will make us familiar with the brand. Vitpilen 250 being the cafe racer and the Svartpilen 250 sporting the scrambler body style. Both the bikes will produce 30PS of peak power and will come with cycle parts borrowed from the 250 Duke.

Launch Expected: January 2020

Benelli TNT 600

Motorcycle popular for its exhaust note was mainly untouched by the manufacturer for years. But this time around the spy shots hovering the internet hint at a resketched design for the 2020 TNT 600. What's also new is a digital-instrument cluster but the drivetrain could be most likely be carried forward but in a BSVI tune.

Launch Expected: Mid-2020

Benelli Leoncino 800

Showcased at the EICMA 2019, The Leoncino 800 will be the biggest capacity Leoncino in the family considering the Indian market has already seen the 250 and the 500. The 800 gets a twin-cylinder in-line 754cc engine capable of 81.6PS and 67Nm of torque. Interestingly the bike gets 17-inch wheels with spoke wired rims.

Launch Expected: Mid-2020

BMW Motorrad F 900 R and F 900 XR

Both the motorcycles now displace higher capacity - from 853cc to 895cc with a power rating of 106PS. The F 900 R gets naked styling meanwhile the F 900 XR gets a fairing for more touring purpose. The instrument cluster is all-digital the electronic suite includes riding modes and a disengageable Automatic Stability Control.

Launch Expected: Early-2020

Ducati Streetfighter V4

As the name suggests, the Streetfighter pack a power to weight ratio of 1045PS/tonne. Thanks to 1,103cc, liquid-cooled V4 motor from the Panigale has been tuned to offer 208PS at 12,750rpm and 123Nm at 11,500rpm. The Streetfighter V4's dry weight is a scant 180kg (standard) and 178kg (S version).

Based on the flagship Brutale 1000 Serie Oro which had a limited run, the Brutale 1000 RR is the mass-production-ready version. The power has been dialled down to 210PS but still gets a claimed top speed of 300 kmph. The braking equipment on offer Brembo Stylema setup that has been carried forward from the Oro.

Launch Expected: Late-2020

Yamaha MT-07

Yamaha has been quiet as far as the big guns are concerned but we will this might change in 2020. The Japanese manufacturer has been mulling expanding its premium product portfolio and could look at launching the MT-07 in India which will not be priced lower than the capable but expensive MT-09 but will also offer more accessible performance in a friendly, likeable manner.

Launch: Late-2020

Kawasaki Z H2

A supercharged 1-litre naked motorcycle that was in the making for long finally broke cover at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. Delivers 200PS at 11,000rpm and 137Nm at just 8,500rpm. The bike tips the scales at a rather heavy 239kg which is infact, 1kg heavier than its faired counterpart, the H2 superbike.

The updated Street Triple RS will be Triumph first launch of 2020 and is expected to be launched this month itself. We've already ridden and reviewed the bike, on foreign shores though. And once launched, the 2020 Street Triple RS is sure to continue from where last year's version left and prove to be a highly versatile and fun machine in the teeming middleweight naked space.

Launch: January 2020

Supersports

Aprilia RS660

Parallel twin-engine derived from the elder Aprilia RSV4 tuned to produce 101PS. Styling is an adaptation of the new design language which could inspire the next RSV4s. Get an electronic suit that works in tandem with a six-axis inertia management unit.

Styling has been updated to suit the Panigale family, the engine has been bumped up in capacity and power figures that are slightly higher than the Panigale 959. The V2 will be a successor to the 959 in India and after tasting it on Circuito de Jerez we can't wait for its launch in July.

The Yamaha R3 was quite a success though its sticker price did prove to be a bit of a deterrent for many buyers. The updated R3 that looks more modern and appealing is expected to be launched early this year and should bring Yamaha back into the premium performance motorcycle arena, where the bike manufacturer has been conspicquous by its absence.

Launch: March 2020

Honda CBR1000RR-R

More powerful than the Ducati Panigale V4 which produces 214PS, The CBR1000RR-R s inspired from Honda's MotoGP machine, the RC213V race bike in terms of the design. The fuel tank sits 45mm lower now, to allow the rider to tuck himself better behind the fairing. Honda has also made the ignition keyless to remove the obstruction that the keyhole is usually for the air intake.

Launch Expected: Mid-2020

Adventure Motorcycles

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin

The Africa Twin now comes with a hike in displacement and power along with revised styling and feature list. The instrument cluster is now a touch-sensitive 6.5-inch unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

After a long wait, the 390 Adventure broke cover, however, the India spec models miss out on fully adjustable suspension. But gets all the bells and whistles as the international spec model. Such as the IMU-based traction control, switchable-cornering ABS and ride-by-wire. The pricing is expected to be aggressive which will keep it at par with the Himalayan.

Launch Expected: January-2020

KTM 790 Adventure

Expected to be a CKD, the 790 Adventure will boast of a feature and equipment list similar to the international spec model. Internationally, the bike sports features such as cornering ABS, off-road ABS, traction control and a rally mode. The bike also gets optional cruise control. Along with the features, KTM offers a long list of accessories for the adventure and touring junkies.

Launch Expected: Mid-2020

Royal Enfield All-new Himalayan

Most likely to get a new engine with power figures at par with its rivals. And the company could possibly upgrade the electronic suite of the motorcycle. Along with a new engine, the new-Himalayan will get revised suspension geometry.

Suzuki took the wraps off at EICMA and the bike not only looks more enticing now, but its 1037cc V-twin also offers more poke. Unsurprisingly, Suzuki has also added an impressive electronics suite, including an IMU. Like before, there's a road-biased version and a more hardcore, off-road capable XT version too. Going by the success of the V-Strom 650 XT in our country, we expect Suzuki to only launch the XT here.

The all-new 900 replaces the highly impressive Tiger 800 that is easily the most popular large capacity adventure tourer in the country. The 900 gets everything new - chassis, engine, more electronics and a more appealing design. It has big shoes to fill given the Tiger 800's success but there's little doubt about how able the 900s will be, whether the touring-focused GT version or the more hardcore Rally.

Launch expected: April 2020

Hero MotoCorp - XPulse 200 rally kit

Hero MotoCorp showcased the rally kit for the XPulse 200 amidst much fanfare at the Milan Motor Show last year which includes longer travel suspension at both ends that will also offer compression and rebound adjustment while bumping the bike's ground clearance up from 220mm to 275mm. The kit also includes a handlebar raiser and flatter seat along with knobbly Ceat tyres and more equipment to make it better-suited to riding off-road. At the time of showcase the kit was yet to be homologated which means it can only be used on a closed circuit. We expect Hero to make it available later this year for those who wanting to use the XPulse 200 competitively.